Briefs
Government
Palau
One month following the signing of Palau’s new dugong protection law, a dugong was found floating in the waters off Meyuns in the Koror area. The cause of death is still to be determined, but early observations point toward concussion from dynamite. The last study of the local dugong population in 1991 estimated numbers no more than 200. Recent sightings suggest numbers are dropping. According to Patricia Davis of Community Centered Conservation, “Palau has a responsibility to put protections for our dugong in place—as they are gone from Yap and Guam.” Palau’s new law is a significant step toward conserving the population of dugong. Enforcement is left to the Division of Fish and Wildlife, which recently requested firearms from the government because of the dangers involved in carrying out environmental and conservation laws. Strong backing from local chiefs will be needed.
—NC
President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. traveled to Washington, D.C. in December where he presented former President George Bush with a shell retrieved from the Japanese war ship that Bush, a naval aviator, sank in Palauan waters during World War II. On the trip, Remengesau conferred with Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly regarding a petition before the Federal Communications Commission that would reduce telephone rates in Palau. He also met with Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.
—NC
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The second of three U.S. Navy fast attack submarines slated for home porting in Guam arrived on December 18. The USS San Francisco cruised into Apra Harbor with its crew of 135 to 150 sailors and officers. The event follows the October arrival of the USS City of Corpus Christi. The third, yet-to-be-identified sub will be in Guam sometime during 2004. The move is seen as part of a military buildup in Guam that will provide a boost for an otherwise stagnant economy.
—FW
For the first time Guam has an elected Consolidated Commission on Utilities, which will oversee both the power and water utilities. The five-member commission was elected in Guam’s general election in November and sworn into office on January 2. Members are: Simon Sanchez, Judith Guthertz, Vincent Camacho, Benigno Palomo and Frank Shimizu. Management of the Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority resigned on request of the new commission. Its first action was to hire interim general managers John Benavente for GPA and David Craddick for GWA.
—FW
In November, Guam also elected, for the first time, an attorney general. Douglas Moylan assumed the office Jan. 6. In the past, the governor appointed the attorney general. Following the election, a nine-member Education Policy Board took office. Though facing a multitude of problems in the Department of Education, the first months of the board’s existence have been shadowed by revelations that member Jonathan Toves is a convicted felon and has a criminal sexual conduct case pending in the Superior Court of Guam. Elected school boards have been on-again, off-again features of Guam education.
—FW
Solomon Islands PM Sir Allen Kemakeza managed to survive shots fired in the direction of his house and a no-confidence motion against him in parliament. The opposition’s no-confidence motion was defeated by 28 votes to 17, in the absence of three MPs, and came after a number of ministers in the coalition government had been sacked and others had resigned. The shooting, involving special constables from Marau, in South Guadalcanal, took place when the offenders, fresh from hunting for rebel leader Harold Keke, decided to press their claims for additional pay. One arrest was made and several weapons seized. Acting police commissioner John Homelo assured the frustrated group that further action would be taken if they persisted with their behavior.
—ND
Al Qaida’s terrorist network has been using ships flagged under Tonga’s international ship registry, according to media reports in the U.S. The Washington Post cited U.S. Navy officials as saying that Al-Qaida used one shipping fleet, flagged under Tonga’s registry, in the Mediterranean Sea. Last year, after Tongan-flagged vessels were caught smuggling arms to the Palestinians, carrying alleged terrorists and involved in people smuggling, the Tongan government announced it was closing the registry. But ships continue to fly the Tongan flag while the registry winds down operations.
—PINA
The government of France will respect New Caledonia’s decisions on its political future. So said France’s Minister for Overseas Territories, Brigitte Girardin, addressing New Caledonia’s Congress on her first visit to the territory. Parties favoring independence drew the Minister’s attention to what they regarded as inconsistencies in the implementation of the Noumea Accord, signed four years ago between the pro-independence FLNKS, the anti-independence body RPCR and France. But Girardin told the congress that France intends to assist the progress of the accord.
—ND
The territorial congress of New Caledonia has passed a preliminary budget of $375 million for 2003. Vocational training, a major emphasis in the budget, has been allocated $7 million. Finance representative in cabinet, Hervé Chatelain, said that despite problems in the global economy, the territory’s economic indicators were promising. There was an increase in visitor arrivals in the last months of 2002, and a planned nickel project gave strong indications that New Caledonia’s economic prospects were bright.
—ND
Nauru and Australia have signed a new memorandum of understanding relating to asylum seekers. The MOU replaces one signed a year ago, under which cash-strapped Nauru agreed to accept up to 1,500 asylum seekers mostly from Middle East countries pending Australia’s assessment of their status as refugees. Australia is to continue meeting all costs associated with the transfer, processing and accommodation of the asylum seekers. Meanwhile, a number of would-be asylum seekers from Afghanistan, previously housed on Nauru, have accepted the Australian government’s offer of repatriation accompanied by a resettlement payment of about $1,000 each. On their arrival in Kabul, many of them strongly condemned Australia’s treatment of them.
—ND
The Vanuatu police force is to undergo a series of reforms, with assistance from Australia. Chris Gallus, Australia’s parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, announced that the reforms would aim at strengthening the force and improving its effectiveness. Beginning in February, AusAid will administer an interim capacity project lasting 18 months. Gallus said the initial aim would be to provide management advice to the police commissioner and police service commission, improve working conditions at the Port Vila police station, and review police employment conditions and pay levels. The police forces in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are also receiving assistance from Australia.
—ND
Contributors: Nancy Chism, Frank Whitman, Norman Douglas, PINA Nius Online
